> KONGSBERG to head up a major Norwegian consortium with DNV and IBM to develop Integrated Environmental Monitoring System

KONGSBERG to head up a major Norwegian consortium with DNV and IBM to develop Integrated Environmental Monitoring System

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011

KONGSBERG TO HEAD UP A MAJOR NORWEGIAN CONSORTIUM WITH DNV AND IBM TO DEVELOP INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEM

In order to reduce the environmental risks from oil and gas operations, a consortium consisting of KONGSBERG, IBM, and DNV will now develop a real-time environmental monitoring solution together with their client Statoil. The 150 MNOK project is led by KONGSBERG and will use integrated technology to create a step change for the operators’ access and operational usage of environmental data.

On behalf of the consortium, KONGSBERG has been awarded a contract by Statoil Research and Development Center in Trondheim for developing an Integrated Environmental Monitoring System.

The project value of 150 MNOK include Statoil`s project work and cash contribution and the consortium’s contribution. The contract period is 3 years ending with a solution ready for pilot implementation at an operational asset. The project is part of Statoil`s “New Energy and HSE” R & D program.

KONGSBERG has formed a consortium with four members with a unique technology base to fulfil the project scope. The consortium is led by Kongsberg Oil & Gas Technologies, and includes Kongsberg Maritime Subsea providing sensor and communication technologies, IBM providing information integration and business analytics technology, and DNV providing marine environmental analytics and risk management practices. Statoil will have an active role in the project contributing with domain knowledge within offshore oil and gas operations

The purpose of the project is to demonstrate solutions for continuous environmental monitoring of operations in sensitive areas covering all phases of an offshore operation, i.e. from preparation, drilling, production and demobilization. A major benefit will be to include the environmental monitoring into the daily operation for early detection and reaction to potential environmental impact.

“KONGSBERG considers this project as an important step in its long-term strategy in developing integrated, continuous environmental monitoring systems to meet a growing demand for early detection and quicker response related environmental impact from offshore oil and gas activities”, says Even Aas, Executive Vice President KONGSBERG.

“Based on our global leadership in environmental risk management and offshore HSE, DNV’s motivation is to set the standard for environmental monitoring. The development of efficient solutions for early warning monitoring and analysis of operations in sensitive areas will be of an unparalleled value to the industry. A major benefit will also be the integration of environmental monitoring into the daily operation”, says Jens Eirik Ramstad, Associate Director in Det Norske Veritas.

“IBM is proud to be part of this unique global project organized out of Norway, which also involves our R&D organisation, providing expertise and focus on Health, Safety and Environment. HSE is becoming increasingly important for the industries across the world. Environmental monitoring, as part of real-time integrated operations, is allowing IBM to drive further focus on HSE, not only as part of our world-wide Smarter Oil and Gas initiative, but also across several Natural Resource domains and industries,” says Morten Thorkildsen, General Manager for IBM Norway.